Understanding How Thermals Affect Your Elk Hunt

Everybody scouts animals and terrain, but very few people scout their thermals. Learning to play that wind will give you a tremendous advantage over other hunters.

Hunting and learning your thermals is absolutely crucial for the success of your hunt. In most western big game hunts, you’re actively moving, and it is extremely hard to control your scent, even with the best products out there.

That’s why playing the wind is absolutely crucial. I use products like Smoke in a Bottle to actively check my wind all day long. One thing you can do is scout your thermals prior to the hunt.

Everybody scouts animals and terrain, but very few people scout their thermals. Before my season, as long as I have consistent weather, I’m out there every morning, every evening, watching the timing of the thermals to figure out when they switch and which way they blow. Playing that wind will make you a better hunter by far.